WIN10 Virtual Machine in QEMU/KVM with Gvtg vGPU

Windows VM running on Qemu/KVM with cpu pinning, GVTg passthrought and hypervisor hydden from the guest.

Host setup

Assuming the host has never been set up for running a VM in qemu/kvm.

0. sudo apt-get install qemu qemu-system-x86 qemu-kvm qemu-utils virt-manager libvirt-daemon-driver-qemu

1. Kernel modules

   Add:

   • kvmgt
   • vfio-iommu-type1
   • vfio-mdev

   to:

   • /etc/modules

   Rebuild initramfs:

   • sudo update-initramfs -u

2. Boot parameters

   Modify GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX line in:

   • /etc/default/grub

   To match the one in "grub"

   update the bootloader:

   • sudo update-grub

3. Libvirtd permissions

   add kvm and libvirtd-qemu to the root group:

   • usermod -a -G root kvm
   • usermod -a -G root libvirtd-qemu

4. Gvtg hook

   copy the content of "qemu" in:

   • /etc/libvirtd/hooks/qemu

   make the hook executable:

   • sudo chmod +X /etc/libvirtd/hooks/qemu

5. Create a virtual disk

   (40GB example):

   • qemu-img create -f qcow2 name.qcow2 40G

6. Define VM

• Create a .xml file and copy the content from "win10-virt.xml", or directly download the file instead
• Open the xml file replace PATHTOHDD with the path to your virtual disk
• Define VM:
  • sudo virsh define win10-virt.xml
• Now the VM should be visible in Virt-manager

8. For further performance optimization:
   • https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Intel_GVT-g
   • https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/QEMU

Guest setup

1. First Boot, Windows install:
   • Add a Windwos10 ISO as Cdrom and set it as the boot device (via virt-manager)
   • Download virtio drives for Windows https://github.com/virtio-win/virtio-win-pkg-scripts
   • Add Virtio-driver ISO as Cdrom
   • Boot
   • Follow this guide: https://linuxhint.com/install_virtio_drivers_kvm_qemu_windows_vm/